Just like Mafia

Mafia is one of my favourite group games – I love to figure out who the killers might be and who is lying to me. In parallel to that exciting game comes a new, equally enthralling variety: who is our swede Valentine? The past few days have been filled with the fun of attempting to uncover the truth (read the last blog entry for details), but so far research has been somewhat unfruitful.

Potential suspects (in order of initial suspicion):

1. Dave Corkish –the original prime suspect: his web alias and mobile number were a bit of a giveaway. However, it is almost never the prime suspect that did it (read any crime novel) and he claims he was ill in bed at the time of the incident.

2. Ian: The clear second-choice. He has been sending me numerous text messages suggesting possible suspects, stirring things up a bit. I’m aware that he has some information, but has apparently been ‘sworn to secrecy’. He can also lie very well.

3. Tom (another 14 Cwmdare resident) –it just seems like something a Cwmdare guy would do, because you would have to know Dave’s alias and his phone number. Therefore, Tom could be involved.

4. Jamie (Spongebob) and Bov - this pair make a cunning team: Also, Jamie was out late the night before and we know that the ‘gift’ appeared very early in the morning.

5. Katie Elias – Can you trust a welsh person? (only joking!). She can be a little crazy sometimes and would be up for any practical joke (including last year’s illegal example).

6. Caleb (plus housemates): The beard says it all: this guy is a potential practical joker. His love for literature may have sparked a desire to share his creative skills in the form of the exquisite poetry accompanying the gifts.

7. Becky Lamb – not only does she have that ‘guilty look’ and her dodgy-looking sister (sorry, but that’s what comes from being a Becky look-alike) was around at that time, but she was also involved in an illegal Valentine’s incident last year. However, she fervently denied any involvement.

8. Lav (Heather Dunscombe): A little bird told me that Becky Lamb and Lav know something. Maybe it’s not them; they just know who it is. Either way, they’re not talking.

9. Dayo – “Is it cos I’s black?” No Dayo, but you may be involved: you also seem very interested in who the suspects are.

10. Matt Bater: The guy we all know and love could have sought his revenge (you can guess why). I still think he’s blameless – he’s too innocent a guy to concoct such a cunning plan.

11. Alison Joy Young –she has the potential, but she was away in some distant part of the country and unless she had some cohorts here, it is doubtful she was involved.

12. Stephen Tilson – probably not, he’s too nice (or is that what he wants us to think?). He suggested it was something a girl would do, to try to frame Dave Corkish, but maybe he’s just covering his tracks…

13. Hannah Trev (and housemates?) – It would make sense to leave a gift at your own house to throw off any suspicions. The girls can get a little hyper at times, so perhaps it boiled over to a Valentine’s prank.

If your name is on this list, come forward and defend yourself! If you are innocent, I apologise for suspecting you, but you just appeared dodgy in some way (for the reasons outlined above). If you are the guilty party and your name is not on this list, well done, you are playing a very good game! But, please, tell us who you are before we go crazy (don’t worry; we won’t hurt you…).